Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, second counselor in the Young Men general presidency, and Brother Milton Camargo, first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency, traveled through four countries in the Central Africa Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The leaders are providing leadership training, strengthening the missionaries and providing support to members and their families, reported the Church’s Africa Newsroom.
Brother Camargo said the purpose of the trip to Africa was first to represent the Savior and share His love with all the members and the leaders.
“Second, it is to help the members see how truly blessed they are to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” he said. “Third, to help them learn about, and live, the gospel of Jesus Christ in their homes and families.”
The leaders began by holding a leader training session in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday, Sept. 10. Brother Camargo told the group his message as a Sunday School leader was best captured by President Russell M. Nelson’s promise:
“[That] as we do our best to transform our homes into a sanctuary of faith and into centers of gospel learning, members will receive great blessings,” he said. “These are that, over time, their Sabbath will be truly a delight, their children will be excited to learn and to live the gospel, and the influence of the adversary will diminish in their lives and those of their families.”
More meetings were held in Nairobi on Sunday, Sept. 11. Brother Wilcox spoke of the importance of the Children and Youth program, which he said “is about brother and sister leaders working together, counseling together and planning together to help the youth [be successful]. It is a real blessing.”
Members of the Africa Central Area presidency accompanied Brother Wilcox and Brother Camargo on the trip. After Kenya, the leaders traveled to Ethiopia. Brother Wilcox lived in Ethiopia as a child; when he arrived in the country, he said, “Coming to this area is like coming home.”
Elder Ian S. Ardern, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the Africa Central Area presidency, wrote on the area’s Facebook page on Sept. 15 about a meeting they had with about 50 missionaries in the Ethiopia Addis Ababa Mission. They also met with young men and young women in a missionary preparation class.
“To our young men who have yet to serve missions, today is your day of preparation to rise up, to prepare yourself spiritually, temporarily and emotionally to serve a full-time mission with honor. Sisters, you too are needed and most welcome to serve,” Elder Ardern said.
After Ethiopia, the leaders traveled to Uganda and Tanzania and met with members there. Elder Matthew L. Carpenter, a General Authority Seventy who serves as president of the Africa Central Area, said the brethren’s visit could help members better live the gospel in their homes.
“With their experience, they give guidance to better implement ‘Come, Follow Me’ gospel study and the Children and Youth programs in the Central African Area, so that more of God’s children can benefit from His atoning sacrifice,” said Elder Carpenter.
“We love them, we are inspired by them, and we hope to implement what they are teaching us so that we can become better disciples of Jesus Christ.”
